How Charles and Edwin Die in Dead Boy Detectives (2024)

One of the most charming aspects of Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives is the relationship between Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland. Both ghosts always have each other's backs. They know this will strengthen them as they solve cases and help other apparitions move into the afterlife.

Amid their hope and optimism about healing ghosts, there is darkness in their past in the Netflix series. The show uses a slow burn approach, filled with secrets and emotional beats that garner sympathy as it reveals their backstories. Notably, as much as the series leans into these tragedies forming the foundation for their evolution, it doesn't let these incidents define them completely.

Edwin Paine Was Sacrificed in Dead Boy Detectives

Edwin's past in 1916 is quite heartbreaking. He had a crush on Simon at their British boarding school. He was invited to a date, only to be ambushed by Simon and his friends. The bullies thought they would have some fun with an occult ritual meant to summon the demonic Sa'al. It feels like they weren't sure that the tome they had would really bring the demon up. But they just wanted to hear Edwin scream and cry. The drunken hazing quickly turns sour as Sa'al comes up and roasts the bullies to ashes.

He apologizes to Edwin, but the rules are the rules. Sa'al drags Edwin to Hell as the sacrificial part of the ceremony must be honored. Edwin escaped in the 1980s after figuring out the hellish landscape. Later on, Episode 7, "The Case of the Very Long Stairway," would see Edwin get trapped there again. He met Simon, who was repentant yet suffering. Despair (Dream's sister from The Sandman series on Netflix) enjoyed the agony. Simon, as fate would have it, didn't lie. He was queer too, but he wanted to hide his crush. He deflected, played up being one of the boys, and after internalizing his fear of being gay, acted out violently.

It's a bit of self-loathing that Edwin sympathizes with. He knows he didn't deserve it, but he feels sorry Simon had to hide his true identity. Edwin struggled with this, so he could relate. However, it's still jarring because had Simon not hid from his feelings, Edwin wouldn't have been robbed of his life and a future. Once Edwin became a ghost, he didn't even follow up on family and friends that much. The agency and all these cases are what he has left, painting him as a cold, disconnected and isolated figure. He may have escaped the afterlife, but he didn't fully retain his humanity.

Charles Rowland Was Abused and Bullied in Dead Boy Detectives

Charles befell a similar fate like Edwin in 1989. His flashbacks in Episode 3, "The Case of the Devlin House," have him trapped in a ghostly time loop that sheds more light on his history. In his case, he was bullied at the same school Edwin went to. The white teenagers around didn't like him trying to protect a Pakistani student from xenophobia -- which stemmed from Charles having South Asian heritage. The school bullies led to his demise in Dead Boy Detectives Season 1. He was forced into a frozen lake, leading to him dying via hypothermia and internal bleeding. Unfortunately, Charles had another bully at home, who hurt him mentally and physically.

His father beat him incessantly, which is why Charles tried to attack the abusive Devlin patriarch, only to get stuck in the loop. Sometimes, the grief and anger are so great, ghosts keep reliving this. Charles relived his torment internally, not out in public like this. He just couldn't stomach knowing the man killed his family after one of the daughters tried to move off to university. This adds context to why Charles kept checking in on his parents. It wasn't about seeing them grow old and hopefully finding happiness. It was to ensure his mother wasn't mistreated.

This sense of calm helped Charles forgive his family and his bullies. But seeing the Devlins' ghosts dredged it all up. A father who killed his family and then himself represented the selfish toxicity that Charles was always surrounded by. Sadly, even after cracking the Devlin case, Charles isn't much for talking about his woes. Not with his crush, Crystal Palace, or even Edwin.

Why Did Charles Befriend Edwin on Dead Boy Detectives?

The show confirms Edwin found Charles' ghost in the school attic. He kept Charles company and let him know the pain would pass in due time. Edwin comforted him, which led to Charles thinking this was a kindred spirit. He saw someone he could fight for and love as a brother. Ghosts needed the kind of help Charles couldn't get as a human. If Edwin wanted to offer that, so they wouldn't feel sad and lonely, Charles intended to be part of it. His new mission was to create closure and send them to the afterlife. Of course, they would have to avoid Kirby Howell-Baptiste's Death.

Crystal adores hearing this story because it shows just how genuine and powerful a connection the guys have. They are each other's salvation. Edwin and Charles often help each other get past their nadirs, all due to a simple maxim: trust. Crystal respects that, as she has the same with Niko, whose near-death experience allowed her to see the boys, too. The girls grow to understand the boys more and how they feel whole together. But this leads to them, including Edwin, wanting to know why Charles can't speak about his past. In time, he does, gaining peace and closure. It bookends a remarkable bond and proves that no one has to keep secrets, let alone the paranormal sleuths.

Are Dead Boy Detectives' Edwin and Charles In a Romance?

All season long, Esther the Witch uses her crow-turned-human familiar, Monty, to seduce and capture Edwin after the boys disrupted her kidnapping project. Even after kissing Monty, Edwin doesn't feel anything. It becomes clear he is in love with Charles. It explains Edwin's jealousy over Charles and Crystal getting together. When Charles rescues him from his second stint in Hell, Edwin tells him he thinks they're soulmates. Edwin was inspired to do this after seeing Simon hurting, so it was a major relief and a load off his back.

Charles doesn't reciprocate Edwin's feelings, but his love is not completely rejected. He wouldn't share this ghostly journey with anyone besides Edwin. Dead Boy Detectives' ending has Crystal and Charles putting their relationship on ice, so Edwin and Charles could be a distinct possibility down the line. Charles doesn't dismiss it fully, plus he is a free-spirit who is attracted to personality and having a qualitative relationship. Thus, he could explore something if the circ*mstances are right.

However, if Dead Boy Detectives gets a Season 2, it might move past this potential romance. Lukas Gage's Cat King has been playing games with Edwin all season long. He eventually moves from being someone who trapped Edwin in Washington, to helping them stop the witch. As they say goodbye, there are moments that move past lust and sensuality, including a kiss. This time, Edwin holds the cards and all the power as he heads back to England. Ultimately, Edwin has his confidence back, and most importantly, he has options to find that happiness which has eluded him all his life and afterlife. While they are both physically 16, he has more experience than Charles. While Charles figures himself out, Edwin looks like he is going to move on, as he knows exactly what he wants.

Season 1 of Dead Boy Detectives is now streaming on Netflix.

Dead Boy Detectives

TV-MA

Action

Adventure

Comedy

In a unique blend of supernatural and mystery, two ghostly adolescents refuse to pass into the afterlife, choosing instead to remain on Earth to solve crimes involving the supernatural. Their journey through the spectral world reveals both humorous and heartfelt moments as they confront their own unfinished earthly business.

Release Date

April 25, 2024

Cast

Briana Cuoco , Caitlin Reilly , Max Jenkins , Yuyu Kitamura , Lukas Gage

Main Genre

Adventure

Seasons

1

Story By

Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner, Steve Yockey

Writers

Steve Yockey

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Franchise(s)

DC Universe

Showrunner

Steve Yockey , Beth Schwartz